Cider For Thanksgiving – Appetizers

This time of the year when you grab a drink, we believe cider is the perfect go-to beverage for the season. Plus, because cider is made from apples, it pairs with a variety of dishes and is a great substitute for wine when used for cooking.

We’ll be sharing a recipe from Figs & Honey Catering that incorporates our cider as well as a few pairing choices for hors d’oeuvres.

The dish they’ve created uses our Classic Cider in a sauce with spicy meatballs. After the meatballs have cooked, you can add cider to enhance the spices and create a light gravy. This method can be used with other meals as well. Deglazing a pan with cider is easy and adds different flavors depending on what you’re serving.

A question we get a lot in our tasting room is what food pairs well with cider and we think the easiest (and most delicious) way is to pair it with cheese. For the sake of great food and drink, we took it upon ourselves to sample and rate a few cheeses to come up with a few suggestions. And remember, always pull your cheese out of the refrigerator at least an hour and a half before serving to bring out the flavor.

For our Classic Cider, gouda cheese was our choice because the flavor of salty sweetness in the cheese was brought out by the semi-sweet cider. Fresh basil also matches the sweetness with hints of anise or a savory pepper flavor.

Our Original Cider is dry and notes of tannins so we chose brie cheese because the crisp cider is balanced by the rich creaminess of the brie. Spreading the cheese on a cracker accompanied by a few pear slices adds some juiciness in between sips.

In a unanimous decision, our Rum Barrel Aged Cider was matched with blue cheese. The tang taste and buttery texture of the cheese balances the robust rum notes in the cider all while mixing with apple and oak flavors to create a complex bite every time.

Try these out this Thanksgiving and remember to #PickCider this holiday season.

Also, remember for the whole month of November, we’re offering free shipping in Georgia when you buy a case!